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Here is a selection of things that we recommend you should try and squeeze into your trip.

1

Head to the Douro River

You’ve probably seen images of the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge in Porto, well this is definitely the place to head for an incredible view across the city rooftops. Take a stroll over the bridge towards the Gaia side of the river. Believe me, you’ll keep stopping to take photos.

The view from the bridge

Once across the bridge take the final climb up to Mosteiro da Serra do Pilar, from here you’ll also get the Dom Luís I Bridge in your shot as well. It’s most certainly worth heading up to.

Looking over Porto from the best viewpoint

2

Visit the Cathedral

One of the most prominent buildings in Porto is Sé do Porto, its cathedral. This eye-catching building sits high above the city, overlooking the bustling streets below.

The Cathedral

Take a wander inside as the Gothic cloister is impressive. Encircled by blue and white Baroque azulejos, which were added from 1729 -1731. It’s free to enter the Cathedral and just a few euros to visit the cloister.

Inside the Cathedral cloisters

The altar in the Cathedral

3

Tour of a Port cellar

Ahhh, you can’t visit Porto without taking a Port tasting tour, and there are so many to choose from. We decided to head to the Sandeman Port house. They run different types of tours depending on which Ports you would like to sample at the end.

Ageing barrels, Sandeman house

We saved 30% on this tour by having a Porto Card (percentage varies seasonally).

Jump on Tram 22

You may want to take the weight off of your feet, if you’ve done a lot of walking, or you just fancy a tram ride. I suggest taking one of Porto’s Heritage Trams. Route 22 is a circular route and takes you through some of Porto’s popular spots, and it’s a great experience.

The Heritage tram

5

Visit Livraria Lello bookstore

This little bookstore built in 1881, is beautiful inside and out. Although I have to confess now, we didn’t manage to get inside due to our timing; however, I recommend you do.

My advice is to arrive early or late to visit Livraria Lello.

The queues are long, and you must buy a €5 voucher from a shop close by.

The voucher can be redeemed against a book purchase.

Livraria Lello

6

Stroll the Ribeira – day and night

Ok, I suppose this may go without saying, however, head down to the Ribeira in the evening as well as during the day. There’s a lovely relaxed atmosphere and seeing the city lit up at night it looks amazing. Oh, and you could grab a sneaky Port as well.

The Luís I Bridge - Ponte Luís I

Why not?

Start creating your own Portuguese adventure and discover the colourful lanes of Porto for yourself, easyJet & British Airways are just a couple of options.

7

Dine at the elegant Majestic Café

For a little bit of indulgence head to the Art Nouveau Majestic Café along Rua Santa Catarina. This attractive café which opened in 1921, not only serves exceptional coffee but the surroundings are beautiful too. (You may have to queue for a table).

The interior of the Majestic café

8

Take a cable car ride

Well if you’ve made it to the top, on the Gaia side of Porto, your first thought may not be let’s jump on a cable car back down. However, I recommend it for the wonderful views you get across the Old Town and the experience as you soar high above the red rooftops of the Port houses.

Taking the cable car down

Tip Box

Once again if you have a Porto Card, you can get a discount on the cable car.

Enjoy Porto’s Architecture

One of the things I really enjoyed when visiting Porto was just wandering through the colourful streets. There’s a fantastic mix of architecture around every corner.

Beautiful style

The iconic Blue & White tiles

Who could resist the wrought iron balconies teetering over the lanes and the locals sharing a story across the alleys?

10

Try a Francesinha

You need to keep in mind before you order a Francesinha that this is certainly not a dish to choose if you just want a light snack.

The Francesinha is native to Porto, and it’s essentially a sandwich; however, inside is ham, smoked sausage, regular sausage, steak, cheese then a tomato & beer sauce. If you’re feeling hungry, you can also add an egg (we didn’t).

Café Santiago for the best Francesinha

My friend’s Portuguese husband said Café Santiago serves the best in town.

Tempted to?

Discover more of historic Portugal and tour its picturesque countryside around the Douro Valley or even head south to the Algarve coastline. You can do it all on a road trip, SIXT car hire cover all budgets and allow you to pick up and drop off at different destinations.

11

Marvel at the train station foyer

Now, you may think that adding a train station foyer to a must-see list is a bit odd, but you need to visit Porto’s São Bento train station and see for yourself. The azulejo tiling in the entrance hall is so striking it’s very impressive. The tiling tells a picturesque story of Portugal historic past.

The ticket office of São Bento train station

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Inspired to visit Porto?

Explore the streets or while away some time enjoying a glass of Port by the Douro River. Porto has so much to offer

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About the Author

Janis

Janis, the co-founder of Our World for You, was born in London and raised in Kent and the Isle of Wight.
Along with Gary her partner, they have been travelling part time since 1995. In 2016, they decided that enough was enough with the 9 to 5, so armed with the knowledge and experience that they had gained on their adventures, that they wanted to inspire others to travel the world near and far.